Kerry Swanson

Station Manager

Kerry Swanson, Northwest Public Radio’s station manager, has been in public broadcasting for 30 years. His experience includes management, programming, fundraising, new media, building community connections, and planning new broadcast facilities. He has helped shape public broadcasting through leadership roles on the boards of National Public Radio, the Integrated Media Association, Western States Public Radio, University Station Alliance & the Northwest News Network.

His early career includes working in commercial radio at KXLE in Ellensburg, and at KNBQ in Tacoma. Kerry's public radio experience started at KPLU in Seattle/Tacoma. During more than 20 years at KPLU, he held several positions including: On-Air Jazz Host, Operations Manager, Development Director, C.O.O. and G.M. His accomplishments include leading some early development and vision of online and new-media applications for public broadcasting, developing new broadcast facilities, establishing new stations and launching Jazz24.org.

Next, Kerry went to Atlanta where he was Director and Manager of the NPR & Classical radio station WABE-FM. After enjoying southern living, he and his family decided to come back “home” to the Pacific Northwest and to Northwest Public Radio. As Station Manager, he directs and manages the 19 station and 12 translator NPR News, Classical music and Jazz network serving audiences in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and British Columbia.

Super Thursday

11:24 am

Mon April 7, 2014

Super Thursday ended successfully in just twelve and a half hours, making it our shortest pledge drive ever! More than more than 2,100 listeners from all over the region contributed more than $268,000 to pay for programs that inform, engage and entertain. If you missed the closing minutes of Super Thursday, listen to exciting countdown to the final pledges to meet the goal. Northwest Public Radio is deeply grateful for the outpouring of support from listeners like you, whether you gave during the pledge drive or at any other time.

2:20 pm

Thu December 13, 2012

We are celebrating the 90th anniversary of Northwest Public Radio’s first station going on the air - December 10, 1922 from the campus of Washington State University. KFAE (later changed to KWSC and then KWSU) 1250 AM is one of the oldest and largest university-owned radio stations in the United States. At the inaugural broadcast, among the stated goals of the station where: “…to provide an information and cultural service to a wide area of population”. We are proud that 90 years later our core mission is unchanged.